Zeno Christopher Mercer

February 25, 1943

Six Flagler county men were sent to Blanding last week for induction. Turned down three for physical deficiency. They were Harold Higginbotham, Marvin Adams and Robert Long. The three who are in the army now are ZENO MERCER, Joseph Brantley Pellicer and Jessie James Quigley.

April 15, 1943

Word comes this week that ZENO MERCER, out at Camp Clairborne, La., has been promoted to corporal.

April 29, 1943

Had nice letter today from ZENO (FATSO) MERCER at Camp Clairborne, La. Zeno is certainly, proud of his branch of the service (engineers) and did just a little bragging about what they have to do—and do it.

(Glad to hear you brag about it, Zeno).

May 6, 1943

Had a letter this week, also, from Andrew Thompson who is at Camp Beauregard, La., asking for the address of ZENO MERCER at Camp Clairborne, La., and Ben Sparkman (in Africa) since last fall. Andrew and Ben went into the army together. We'll write you a letter, Andrew and give the addresses. Can't do it in this column. Incidentally, I offer congratulations on the promotion to Sgt. and hope you can I get the furlough soon.

May 13, 1943

It is no longer Cpl. for ZENO (FATSO) MERCER at Camp Clairborne, La. Now it's Sgt. (Congrats, Zeno)

May 27, 1943

Remember what a good swimmer ZENO MERCER used to be? Well, he probably needs it today. Zeno is stationed out in Louisiana, and writes home that he has been a big job in the flood now raging in that area.

July 1, 1943

Sgt. ZENO MERCER of the army engineers and who has been stationed at Camp Claiborne, La. has been transferred to Camp Hobinson, Arkansas - near Little Rock.

July 15, 1943

ZENO (FATSO) MERCER, with the army engineers in Louisiana, has been moved up a notch - from Sgt. to Staff Sergeant.

July 29, 1943

ZENO MERCER, with the army engineers at Camp Robinson, Ark. has advanced to Master Sergeant. Congratulations, Zeno.

September 2, 1943

M/Sgt. ZENO and Mrs. MERCER were here last weekend to see his parents. Zeno is still in Louisiana, but for how long he doesn't know.

March 2, 1944

M/Sgt. ZENO C. MERCER has advised us that he has arrived in England, giving us his new address there.

April 13, 1944

In a letter to his parents here, M/Sgt. ZENO MERCER, now in England, stated that a number of Tribunes are catching up with him and he is enjoying catching up with the hometown news.

June 29, 1944

Another letter, but this one is from ZENO MERCER with the army engineers "in England." Zeno said:

"I suppose you think that I don’t appreciate The Tribune for I never write telling you so. That, though, is not the case. I do appreciate the paper and plenty. I read it word for word and I always look forward from one to the next. I haven't had the pleasure of bumping into any of the fellows from home yet. I found out in a roundabout way that I missed Aubrey Sheffield by about an hour.

I correspond with Lt. Joy Deen quite often and I hope before long to call him Captain, and also to be able to see him. Although I haven't met anyone from home, I have seen several fellows that know lots of the folks from around home. I did bump into a fellow about a week ago that knows you and is known in and around Bunnell - Lt. Albert Baker. We had a nice chat and a 'spot of tea' together. It certainly gives a fellow a very good feeling to run into someone he knows so far from home.

Thanks very, very much for the paper. It means so much to me."

(We are very glad to be able to send it to you and the other fellows for we understand just how good anything from home looks when you are in war and on foreign soil)

October 19, 1944

Pvt. Johnny Mercer, with an armored division, has arrived in France, according to a letter received by his wife here on October 6. Johnny's brother, ZENO, is somewhere in the European theater of operations also.

November 9, 1944

M/Sgt. ZENO Mercer has advised his parents here that he is now with an engineer company in France. His brother, Johnny Mercer, also wrote his parents, but from Belgium.

April 19, 1945

M/Sgt. ZENO MERCER writes his mother, who sends The Tribune to him, that "I read every word of including the legal advertisements, although they mean nothing to me."

His brother, Johnnie also wrote saying "I am deep in Germany in a hole. Wish I could stay in this hole but can't." His wife, Carolyn here, received a German sword from his this week for a souvenir.

June 7, 1944

M/Sgt. ZENO MERCER advises his parents here that he is at Le Havre, France, and Pfc. Johnny Mercer is on the border of Czechoslovakia and Austria, but they had not yet learned just where the third son, Pfc. Ray Mercer is, but was in Germany at last accounts.

June 28, 1945

Here is some news that is not so good for relatives and friends, but the Japs would class it as bad news: Cpl. Dale B. Brown, Jr., and M/Sgt. ZENO C. MERCER are apparently heading for the Pacific area without coming to the States. Both are attached to Engineer outfits.

August 30, 1945

M/Sgt. ZENO C. MERCER has landed safely in Boston. We understand that he too was on his way to the Pacific but was turned back.

September 6, 1945

M/Sgt. ZENO C. MERCER arrived here Monday and is spending his 30-day temporary duty at home. Zeno was in the ETO for 19 months and was on his way to the Pacific without coming to the States at the time of the Japanese surrender negotiations began.

November 1, 1945

Two Mercer boys left last week to return to camp. Lamar back to Camp Peary Va., with the Navy and M/Sgt. ZENO to Camp Clairborn, La.

December 13, 1945

Discharged from the armed forces this week ....... ZENO MERCER